Engine starter



Sept. 15, 1936. R P, LAN5|NG 2,054,38

ENGINE STARTER Filed Feb. 27, 1932 2 sheets-Sheet 1 [M y f J 52 ,w1 "lmllmrl il y of@ l i J 4.9 //f J x 47 l i J ,f f4 I 4f.

i i J y@I 3l 37 /ft /z 4f 4" I 35 l 2a 2 I as l 22 l I .i8 L I 1 f5 f A I 60 l G4 m #l ff 52 5 l' 32 W r 30 7 INVENTOR FWHM/7a P Lans/b BY Sept. 15., 1936. R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ici

ans/'ny INVENTOR Fay/0nd E fsvf Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES ENGINE STARTER Raymond P. Lansing, Montclair, N.y J., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application February 27, 19342, Serial No. 595,625

17 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starters, and more particularly to the engaging, or meshing, mechanism employed in starters for internal combustion engines.

One object of this invention is to provide a starter having a novel power transmission unit in combination with means for engaging and disengaging said unit with respect to a member of an engine to be started.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel transmission assembly in which the starter mechanism is positively and promptly released from operative engagement with the engine when the latter operates under its own power.

A further object is to provide a strong, light, yet eflicient power transmission unit in a starter of the foregoing character.

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an inertia type starter embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental similar view showing another embodiment of the invention applied to a starter of the direct cranking type;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a third embodiment; and

Fig. 5 is a partial top plan view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figs. 2 and 4.

An inertia starter embodying the present invention is illustrated in Fig, 1 as comprising a housing 5 provided with a flange 6 adapted to be bolted to a corresponding flange 1 on the engine casing; the housing 5 being provided with additional flanges to which are bolted or otherwise securely fastened a hand crank housing 8 and a flywheel housing 9. A thin metallic protective hood III is provided for the portion of the starter which extends into the crank case of the engine, this hood being secured in place between the flanged portions 6 and 'I above referred to.

The inertia starter, as herein shown by way of example, includes an inertia flywheel II which, when rotated at high speed, receives anaccumu- 55 lation of energy for cranking the engine upon (Cl. 12S-179) subsequent transfer of such energy thereto.' Both power and manual actuating means, referred to hereafter as driving means, are provided for rotating this flywheel and storing energy therein. The manual cranking means preferably comprises a shaft I2 rotatably mounted in the hand crank housing 8 and supported therein as by means of ball and roller bearings I3. The outer end of said shaft projects from the housing and is provided with suitable means such as pins I4 for engagement with an ordinary hand crank. Fixedly secured to the inner end of shaft I2 is a bevel gear I5 which meshes with a second bevel gear I6 vthat is preferably formed integral with a sleeve I1, said sleeve being rotatably supported by a bearing I8 held in place in the housing section 5 by means of rings I9. threaded to sleeve I'I holds bearings I8 against movement relative to said sleeve. l

The inner end of sleeve I'I is milled to form a positive driving connection with a barrel 2| rotatably mounted, as by means of ball bearings 22 and` 23 secured in the flanged housing section 6. The closed end of barrel 2| Ais provided with a flange 24 from which extends preferably three tubular bearing sleeves 25, one of which is shown in section. Each of these sleeves, which are spaced at intervals of 120 degrees around the inner face of flange 24, is placed intoa counterbore in said flange and, if desired, may be formed integrally with a bearing retaining ring 26. Screws 2'I pass through the sleeves and are threaded into flange 24. Ball bearings 28 are mounted on sleeves 25 and rotatably support the three planetary gears29, one of which is shown in section. Rigidly secured to the face of the flanged housing member 5 is an annular gear 30 which is adapted to mesh with the planetary gears 29. Each of the latter gears is in mesh with a sun gear 3l which is preferablyintegral with a spur gear 32 which is rotatably mounted on hub I1, concentric therewith. Preferably, spacing washers 32a are interposed between the gear 32I and a suitable shoulder formed on sleeve I1 to maintain said gear in proper position thereon.

Gear 32 preferably engages a pinion 33 rigidly secured to a lay shaft 34 rotatably supported in the housing member 5 through the provisionA of bearings 35 and 36. Bearing 35 is held against a suitable shoulder on said housing by means of a cap 31 secured to the side of` housing 5, while a nut 38, which is threadedly received by the end of lay shaft 34, and a spacing sleeve 39, hold the pinion 33 and the crown gear 40, integral A retaining nut 28 therewith, in place with the assistance of a collar 4|.

The gear 4D meshes with a pinion 42 rigidly attached to the inner end of a sleeve 43 which is fitted into a counter-bore in the hub 44 of iiywheel The iiywheel housing section 9 is provided with a boss 45, and positioned in said boss are ball bearings 46 and 41 which rotatably support the hub 44 of flywheel I I, the said hubbeing suitably secured to sleeve 43. Bolt 48, passing centrally through the flywheel hub 44 and sleeve 43, prevents relative longitudinal movement of these members. Bearings 46 and 41 are securely held in place by a ring 49, ring 5D, and an annular abutment 5| integrally formed with sleeve 43; while the bearings 46 and 41 are properly spaced by a spacing sleeve 53 and an inwardly projecting abutment 54.

When it is desired to manually rotate' the flywheel to store starting energy therein, rotation of shaft I2 is transmitted through bevel gears I5 and I6, sleeve I1, barrel 2|, ,planetary gears 29, sun gear 3|, spur gear 32, pinion 33, crown s gear 40, and pinion 42, to the flywheel The energy of therotating flywheel is imparted by the reduction gear train described above, to barrel 2| and thence, through the novel power transmission assembly to be described, to a. starter jaw or driving member 55 that is adapted to mesh with, but is normally out of engagement with, a similar jaw 56 formed on the crankshaft 51, or extension thereof, of the engine to be started.

The present invention provides a novel power transmission unit interposed between the barrel 2| and the crankshaft 51, in combination with means for movingy said power transmission unit axially into driving engagement with the crankshaft. In the form shown in Fig. l, the power transmitting unit comprises, in part, a drum 58 open at one end, and drivably connected as by splines to driving barrel 2|, thereby being capable of axial movement vrelative thereto. Jaw clutchmember 55 has a counter-bore of a diameter equal to the inner diameter of drum 58 and is telescopically received by the open end of said drum where the latters inner diameter is slightly increased for this purpose, thus forming a cylindrical enclosure 59 into which is tted a torsion spring 60, the latterbeing inserted under a predetermined initial compression. The drum 58 and the jaw clutch member 55 are prevented from relative axial movement by being rigidly constrained between a. shoulder 64 formed on rod 6| which passes centrally through these members, and a nut threadedly received by the end of said rod. The outer surface of spring 6l), because of its initial compression, is in frictional cooperation with the inner surfaces of enclosure 59. Thus when there is a tendency to rotate drum 58 in one direction relative to the jaw clutch member 55, the frictional cooperation between the surface of the enclosure 59 and the outer surface of spring 60 tends to unwind said spring and force its outer surface more tightly into engagement with the walls of enclosure 59, thus locking drum 58 and the jaw clutch member 55 together and serving as a driving connection therebetween in that direction, such direction being that in which the unit rotates for starting the engine. When, however, the tendency is for the driving member 55 to become the driver, the frictional relationship between the outer surface of the spring and the enclosure walls tendvto wind the spring more tightly, reducing its effective diameter, thus lessening the f rictional cooperation between said spring and the walls of said enclosure means and permitting free relative rota.- tional movement between the drum 58 and the jaw clutch member 55. f

Means are provided for shifting the above-described drive unit axially in order to effect a driving engagement between jaw clutch member 55 and the complementary jaw clutch member 56 on the crankshaft or other suitable lpart of the engine on which the starter is mounted. Such means may, as shown in Fig. y1, include a simple linkage, only part of which is shown, adapted to be either electrically or manually controlled. Rod 6|, iorminga part of this meshing linkage, has a sliding fit through sleeve I1 and is pivotally connected to link 52 which is in turn rigidly connected to and constrained to turn with a bar 63. The latter may be rocked manually or by electrical means through a suitable linkage external to the starter casing, such as that disclosed fully in my prior Patent No. 1,833,948 of December l, 1931.

A suitable spring (not shown) is preferably employed in the meshing linkage for the purpose of aiding in demeshing the drive unit and positively maintaining the same normally out of engagement with the crankshaft of the engine, with drum 58 in abutting relation to the shoulder 64 on rod 6|, so as to be moved thereby on the next meshing operation.

Describing a manual cycle of operation, the operator rotates the hand crank, and this motion is transmitted through bevel gears I5 and I6, sleeve I1, barrel 2|, planetary gears 29, sun gear 3|, spur gear 32, pinion 33, gear wheel 40, pinion 42 to the flywheel Il, whereby the latter is rotated. The rotation of the barrel 2| acts through its splined connection to the drum 58 to rotate the latter which in turn acts through the torsion spring 60 to rotate the jaw clutch member 55 on which there is no load and, therefore, no tendency other than that due to the inertia of the jaw clutch 55 toward relative rotation between said jaw and said drum.

When the. flywheel is brought up to a. sufliclently high speed of rotation, the operator actuates the meshing linkage, thereby'moving yrod 6| to the left in Fig. 1, and the shoulders on said rod forces the drive unit outwardly and brings the jaw clutch 55 into driving vengagement with jaw 56 on the engine crankshaft. Upon engagement of said jaws, there is an immediate tendency to rotate the. jaw clutch member 55 and the drum 58 relative to each other. As pointed out above; the spring 60 now tends to unwind, increasing the friction between itself and the walls of the enclosure 59, and thus producing a driving connection between the drum and the enginecrankshaft.

When the engine starts, the jaw clutch member 56 rotates faster than when being driven by the starter, and tends to drive the jaw clutch member 55 at an equally increased speed. The inclined teeth of the jaws 55 and 56 now coact to move the power transmission unit to the right in Fig. 1, disengaging the said jaws. This movement of disengagement mayy also be accomplished by the operator through the meshing linkage and rod 6|. It is to be noted that in the event the demeshing of jaws 55 and 56 does not occur automatically at the instant the ,engine starts, such as would be the case if a square-toothed jaw or a pinion were used, the operator may disengage said jaws manually at the instant of starting. No harm will result, however, if vthe parts' are not demeshed Cil immediately since in the event there would be a relative rotation of the drum 58 and jaw 55 such as would wind the spring 60 tighter and permit of free overrunning of the jaw clutch member 55 relative to the drum 58. l

In the event of a back-re, there would be the same tendency toward the unwinding of the spring 60 as when starting the engine and, therefore, a tendency for the engine to drive the starter mechanism in the reverse direction to its normal operation. As was pointed out above, however, thel spring Gis installed under such initial'compression as to slip at a predetermined load value for protection against any over-load. Therefore, it is readily seen that if the forces set up by the engine back-fire exceed this predetermined load value, which may be set at somewhat less than the maximum capacity of the starting motor, slippage will occur and no damage will be done to the starter parts.

It has been stated that power driving means may be provided for energizing the starter -mechanism, and such means, as illustrated in Fig. l, consists of an electric motor 62 rigidly attached as by means of bolts to the outer face of the flywheel housing 9. For the purpose of automatically connecting and' disconnecting the motor 62 andy the flywheel shaft 63 of the motor is provided with the usual threaded portion 64 on which is mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement a clutch member 65 adapted to engage a clutch element 65 rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the outer face of the flywheel.

When the motor 62 is energized, the inertia of` Means are provided for normally maintainingy the clutch member 65 out of engagement with clutch member 66, and as herein illustrated, such means consists of the usual coil spring 61 held in place by nut 68 which is threadedly received by the inner end of motor shaft 63. The energy stored in the flywheel I| by the motor 62 is utilized to crank the engine in the same manner as pointed out in the description of the manual operation of the starter.

Automatic means may be provided for moving the power transmission unit into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and two embodiments of such means are shown as in Figs. 2 and 4 appliedto direct cranking starters. Referring now to these. figures, an electric motor 62 is shown adapted to rotate the barrel |2| through suitable power transmitting mechanism such as a reduction gear train. As shown, the gear train includes a sun gear I3| keyed to the armature shaft |63 and adapted to mesh with planetary gears |29 which in turn mesh externally with a stationary internal gear |30 suitably secured to the housing member |05. The planetary gears |20 are mounted on bearing sleeves |25 which are counter-sunk at intervals preferably of 120 degrees into the outer side of housing member |05 and is prevented from moving member |05 and in the other direction by split ring 69 which fits into a channel cut into the outer surface of said barrel and which abuts a shoulder on the housing member |05; the power transmitting unit consisting, as in Fig. 1, of drum |58, jaw clutch member |55 and torsion spring 60; the drum being splined to the interior of the barrel I2 I.

The means for moving the meshing unit into engagement with jaw |56 of the engine on which the device is mounted comprises, as shown in Fig. 3, a three piece ring having a cylindrical ange with a bead 1| on the interior of said flange. The bead 1| is adapted to be received and to frictionally bear against a lip portion on the inner face of the hood ||0. A groove is provided on the outer surface `of said ange for receiving a toroidal spring 12, Figs. 2 and 3, which maintains the desired frictional relationship between ring 10 and hood IIO. Rigidly attached to one sector of the ring 10, as by means ofv set screws, is a sleeve 13 loosely tted over the outer end of drum |58 and carrying an inwardly projecting pin 14 which has a sliding fit in a helical slot cut into the outer surface' of ,drum |58.

In operation, when the motor switch is closed, rotary motion is transmitted from the motor B2 through shaft |63and sun gear |3I to planetary gears |29 which not only rotate about their own axes but, by virture of the fixed internally toothed annular gear |30, they revolve about the sun gear I3|, thus rotating the barrel I2 Power is transmitted from said barrel through the splined connection to drum I 58 and thence, as has been heretofore described, through the spring 60 to jaw clutch member |55. 'l'he ring 10 is, however, retarded by the friction between itself and the housing member I0, whereupon the pin A11| cooperates with helical slot 15 in forcing the meshing unit to the left and into engagement with jaw |56 on the crankshaft |51. When complete meshing of the jaws is effected, the ring 10 and the sleeve 13 are constrained to rotate with the power transmitting unit irrespective of the friction between ring 10 and the housing. member I I0, such friction being only enoughto hold the ring against rotation while the jaws are moved into engagement. When the engine starts, disengagement is effected by the interaction of the inclined faces of jaws |55 and |56 as described above.

Mechanism involving the same principle as that shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein a 'ing axially in one direction by a iiange at the 'closed end thereof which bears against the housring 16 is frictionally held between the inner surface of hood I|0 and a resilient spring plate 11 suitably secured to the housing member |05. Rigidly secured to the ring 16 is a pin |14 similar in purpose to pin ill of Fig. 2, which is slidably received in the slot 15 of the drum4 |58. The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the disclosure in Fig. 2.

- There is thus provided a novel combination of power transmitting device including a clutching member capable of overrunning in one direction and yielding at a predetermined over-load in the other direction, with means cooperating with said device for moving the latter into drivingiengagement with a member to be driven. There is provided also a relatively simple, readily constructed and assembled device which not only serves as a power transmitting unit and an over-load safety release but also one which incorporates means for effecting a'smooth, easy engagement between the f driving and driven members.

While there has been shown and described only certain embodiments of the invention, itis to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto. Various mechanical changes may be made in the details of construction of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drum mounted for both rotary and axial movement, a starter member adapted to drivably engage an engine member and mounted for longitudinal movement with said drum but capable of rotary movement relative thereto, means for transferring cranking torque from said drum to said starter member, relatively stationary frictional means distinct from said torque transmitting means but cooperating with said drum for effecting axial movement thereof, and means for causing said relatively stationary means to rotate with said drum as soon as said axial movement has been completed.

2. In a starter of the type wherein energy is transmitted by means of reduction gearing, the combination with said gearing of a power transmitting unit including a rotatably and axially movable drum, a starter member adapted to drivably engage an engine member, a torsion spring for drivably connecting said drum to said starter member, and means comprising a helical slot on the outer periphery of said drum, a pin engaging said helical slot, and frictional means for retarding the rotation of said pin for moving said power transmitting unit into effective driving engagement with said engine member.

y3. In apparatus of the class described, an axially movable member adapted to be rotatably driven, a member adapted to engage a part of an engine to be started, means for drivably connecting said members when there is a tendency to relative rotation in one direction while permitting free relative rotation therebetween in the reverse direction, means for locking said members against relative axial movement, relatively stationary frictional means distinct from said connecting means but cooperating with said first named member in moving said member axially,

and means for causing said relatively stationary means to rotate as soon as said axial movement has been completed.

4. In a starter for an internal combustion engine, driving means, power transmitting means interposed between said driving means and a member of said engine, said power transmitting means including a unit comprising two members cooperating to form a cylindrical enclosure and a coil spring in said enclosure adapted to transmit torque between said two members up to a predetermined load, means for drivably engaging one of said members with a member of said engine, relatively stationary frictional means dis'- tinct from said torque transmitting means but cooperating with said cylindrical unit in moving it into driving engagement with said engine member, and means for causing said relatively stationary means to rotate as soon as saidengaging movement has been completed.

5. In an engine starter, a power transmitting unit including a torsion spring clutch, means for rotating said unit, reduction gearinginterposed between said last named means and said unit.

6. In combination, a power transmitting unity comprising two telescoping members, and a torsion spring frictionally engaging each of said members and adapted to transmit power from one to the other of said members, means for driving one of said members, a helical slot in said last named member, the other of said members being adapted to drivably engage a member to be driven, and means for moving said power transmitting unit axially, said latter named means comprising a rotatable friction element adapted to frictionally engage a stationary member, a pin rigidly attached to said friction member, said pin projecting into said helical slot for moving said power transmitting unit axially during relative rotation between said frictional element and saidpower transmitting unit.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a power transmitting unit, including an overrunning clutch, of means for moving said power transmitting unit axially, said means comprising a rotatable friction element, resilient means for maintaining said friction element in frictional engagement with a stationary part; a pin distinct from said power transmitting unit, but adapted to coact with said power transmitting unit for moving said unit into engagement witha member of an engine to be started.

8. In an inertia. starter wherein a Yjaw clutch member is adapted to engage and drive, a complementary jaw clutch member on an engine shaft, the combination with said rst namedfjaw clutch member -of means including a torsion spring clutch for transmitting energy to said rst named jaw clutch member,'relatively stationary frictional means distinct from said energy transmitting means but cooperating with said rst named jaw clutch member for effecting engaging movement thereof, and means for rotating said relatively stationary means as soon as the engaging movement has been effected.

9. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a rotatable drum, a jaw clutch member, means including a torsion spring clutch for transmitting cranking energy from said drum to said jaw clutch member, means including a rela.- tively stationaryfriction element distinct from said energy transmitting means for effecting the engagement of said `jaw clutch member with a, complementary jaw clutch member,on an engine shaft, and means for rotating said relatively stationary element as soon as the jaw clutch members have been engaged.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a power transmitting unit including a torsion spring clutch, means including a relatively stationary friction element distinct from said power transmitting unit but adapted to coact with said power transmitting unit for moving the latter into drivable engagement with a member of an engine to be started, and means for rotating said relatively stationary element after said engagement has been effected.

11. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a drivenmember, a driving member in which energy may be developed for transmission to a member of the engine to ybe started, means including a two-partiriction.clutchfor drivably connecting said driving member with said driven member, and meansvfor meshing said driven member with said engine member, said meshing means including` a rod extending through the two parts of said friction clutch to hold said parts against any substantial relative axial movement.

12. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a driven member, a driving member in which energy may be developed for transmission to a member of the engine to be started, means including a torsion spring clutch for drivably connecting said driving member with said driven member, and means for meshing said driven member with said engine member, said meshing means including a part serving to hold the parts of said clutch against relative axial movement.

13. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a driven member, a driving member in which energy may be prepared for transmission to a member of the engine to be started, means including a torsion spring clutch for drivabiy connecting said power member with said driven member, and. means for meshing said driven member with said engine member, said meshing means including a rod extending through the parts of said friction clutch to hold said parts against relative axial movement.

14. In a, starter of the class described, the combination of a driven member, a power member from which energy may be taken for transmission to a member of the engine to be started,

a torsion spring clutchfor dri'vably connecting said driving member with said driven member, means for energizing said driving member, and means distinct from said energizing means for meshing said driven member with saidengine member, said last named means including a member engaging said driving member to rst restrain rotation thereof and thereafter rotate therewith.

l5. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a driven member, a power member from which energy may be taken for transmission to a member of the engine to be started, a torsion spring clutch for drivably connecting said power member with said driven member, and means operable independently of said power member to mesh said driven member with said engine member, said last named means including a member engaging said driving member` to first restrain rotation thereof and thereafter rotate therewith.

16. In a clutch of the class described, the

combination with a pair of nested fiat-ended cups having cylindrical inner and outer surfaces, and a third cup driven thereby, of means engageable with the inner surface of the inner nested cup to transmit torque to the driven cup, and means drivably connecting said nested oups.

17. In a clutch of the class described, the combination with a pair of nested driving cups, and a third cup driven thereby, of means engageabie with the inner surface of the inner nested cup to transmit torque to the driven cup, and means drivably connecting said nested cups.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

